Churches of the British Isles

The Roman Catholic Church of St Stanislaus, Dulverton, is set back about thirty metres behind the buildings on the east side of the High Street, where it meets Bridge Street. Mrs Aubery Herbert of Pixton Park established a chapel in a former laundry during the war. A disused stable off the High Street was then adapted, and was converted into today's chapel, opening in 1955. The dedication is credited to Auberon Herbert, son of Aubrey, following war service in Poland.

Dulverton Independent Church (Presbyterian) is on the south side of Chapel Street (formerly Duck Paddle), about seventy metres south-east of the High Street. Built in 1831 it attracted around two hundred members. The building was extended in 1897 with adjoining hall and school rooms above that. By then it was Dulverton Congregational Chapel. It remained independent even after the 1972 URC union, but closed in 2004 and was converted into a private residence.

All Saints Church Dulverton sits at the northern end of Bank Square, with Town Marsh lane behind it. The present Perpendicular building was erected in 1855 on the foundations of a much older building to create the largest church on Exmoor, other than St George Dunster (see links). Only the tower escaped this rebuild, and the difference is visible between the two. The graveyard has been in use since the medieval period, and the tower has been estimated to be of the 1200s.

Likely the nave and chancel predated that by about two centuries. An architect in 1852 described the old building as dating from about 1500, later than the tower, which would have made it another rebuild. Given the age of the village, a Saxon church was probably built, while Taunton Priory owed the land in 1155. Scarcely any attempt was made to save any old work and, internally, the only ancient features are some carved fifteenth century bosses on the north aisle roof.

Dulverton Bible Christian Chapel is on the western side of Lady Street, about a hundred metres north of the junction with The Paddock. It was built in 1902, somewhat late in terms of the arrival of Methodism into most towns in the region, but the movement had long struggled to find a foothold in the Exmoor area. The first part of the 1800s had seen preachers even being stoned and chased out of towns. This chapel closed more recently, to be converted into four apartments.

Photos on this page kindly contributed by Keltek Trust, Kim Haslam (two), Tony Ethridge, and Huw Thomas (two), all via the 'History Files: Churches of the British Isles' Flickr group. Additional information from Old Dulverton and Around: Dulverton - Bury - Brushford - Exebridge (The Exmoor Press).